How do I get started as a mapmaker?
Assuming you want to create an interactive Green Map on our platform, you can create your account on the Register page. You may need to check your Spam folder for the confirmation email.
In order to start creating maps, you first need to create a team that will own that map. To make a new team, from your dashbaord click on + in the menu bar and choose Team.
After a team has been set up, you can create a map. To get to the map creation page, use the same + button and choose Map. We suggest reviewing the guides on our documentation website: https://docs.giscollective.com/.
Here's a handy new one page introduction.
Learn more about this platform's history and purpose and explore the world of Green Maps at GreenMap.org, including our icons for sustainable living, nature, culture and social justice, as well as wonderful Green Maps.
What is a feature?
Features on the map include points (sites), lines (routes) and polygons (areas).
Each Feature has a title, description and icons, and you can select multiple maps on which it can appear.
Once published, Features are public on the global map and on your own map (on our platform, or when embedded in other websites).
How do I make a map or feature public?
You will notice that the sites, maps, and teams added on the platform are by default private. In order to make them visible for users who are not logged in and not in your team, you publish them by making them public. Here's how:
Features
- While viewing a site, you can use the Make public button on the site's page.
- While editing the site, you can use the is public toggle in the right pane (open with >> at the top right, if need be).
- If you want to make more sites public at once, you can use the list view on the map's dashboard page. Select the sites you want to make public using the checkbox, and then you can publish them with the publish button from the bottom bar.
Maps
We recommend waiting until you have a handful of features on the map before making it public.
Go on the Edit page of the map, and use the is public toggle in the right pane.
To find the Edit page, start at your dashboard, choose the team which owns the map, click on the map, then edit the Map by clicking on the edit button, which has the pen icon.
How do I make a map open to public participation?
We recommend setting up a Survey (previously known as Campaign) for public participation to a map. Add the link to your map's description or make a QR code so it's easy to find.
How do I set up a new Survey?
You can find a detailed guide on our documentation website.
Every feature (site) added with a survey is like any other on your map, and it's in Private mode until the Mapmaker reviews and published is. You can have more than one survey for a map. Consider one in a second language, for visitors or other audiences. You can make a short URL (bit.ly) or QR code for the Campaign.
What levels of access are there within the same mapping project?
Access levels are defined per Team and apply to all maps, icon sets and other items owned by the team. Within a team, a user can be a guest (can contribute to a map before publication), a member (can edit their own sites), a leader (can add + edit any site or map) or owner (this is the Mapmaker who can edit everything, and manages team + map + can add icon sets). We maintain a mapping of the rights based on these roles here.
Is it possible to search and filter by icon?
Yes! On the map view you can see all the default icon sets used on the platform. You can also click on View more for an icon set, and choose the one you want to filter by. This also applies to the map view of a particular map, where you can filter by all the icons used on that map.
How are pictures stored?
Pictures added to sites, maps, teams, and icons need to be uploaded on the platform, and are stored in the platform's database. They are deleted once the record associated to them is removed, or when removing the picture with the delete functionality of the app.
How are the icons defined?
Icons are grouped in icon sets.
- If you already have an Icon Set, add an icon to it from the + menu item, and then selecting Icon.
- Or create a new icon set for the icon, from the + menu item, and then selecting Icon set.
What base maps are used on the platform?
We currently offer by default the Open Street Map and MapBox basemaps. You can also add your own - see the question below.
Can I use custom base maps?
Yes, setting custom base maps is available. After you log in, go to your dashboard, then select + > Base Map to add your own base map.
How can I export and import data via CSVs?
You can download each of your map's data from the map dashboard page, using the Download button.
To import data on a map, go to your team dashboard. Then click on the 3 dots menu(...) for your map, and select Map Files. You can then choose a CSV file to import and map the columns to the available fields in your map.
How does the partnership between the GISCollective, Tacit Design and Green Map System work to support Green Mapmakers?
As it grew to impact 65 countries, Green Map System has always worked in collaboration. When this NYC-based nonprofit became an open source organization in 2018, a Berlin-based start up, the GISCollective, offered to build a versatile mapping platform for local leaders of Green Map projects. The Scottish design consultancy Tacit Design joined this collaboration in 2021.
Today, this Platform is the centerpiece of this supportive team, which offers training, strategy, custom design and local Apps alongside the Platform and Map Making tools which are free for non-commercial projects. We provide speakers, open office hours and continually develop our open source technology, iconography and tools to serve those working on big picture challenges as well as folks new to mapmaking. If you'd like to find out more about how we can support you or how you can support us, visit the pages under Plans & Services, the Donate page, or contact us.
How do I
print and choose designs for printed documents, are there templates?
Unfortunately, we currently do not offer ready-made map printing features. If you'd like to print your map, one option is to download the data(we support various formats) and import it to an app which supports creating printed maps. Until we develop this feature, if you'd like our support, we can offer bespoke design services to generate the map using a high resolution for printing. If you are interested in this option we can give you a better estimate of the required work after we understand the complexity of your project, so feel free to contact us to book a discussion.
What is an API token? How is it used?
An API token is a secret key represented by a long string of characters. It is used to authenticate and authorize access to our API (Application Programming Interface). APIs are interfaces that allow you to interact with our platform using a programming language like Python or Javascript. Our API is fully documented here: https://docs.giscollective.com/en/Rest-api/ using the open API format.
What happens after I create an attribute?
You will usually create attributes for an icon. They represent questions associated with that icon, which show up if you use the icon in a survey. So you can use attributes to customize the questions in a survey. You can check a short description of how they are used in our guides here.
We also use attributes to add structured data to map features. This can be used to improve the search result, design better pages for your Green Map-based website, or have the feature information stored in a structured and consistent way across your map features.
How do I get the answer to a question not listed here?
If you have other questions, please contact us, we would be happy to answer them!
Alternatively, if you have an issue with the app, you can report it here.
